Page:Conversations, between James Block, Esq. and Millar, the editor of the Monthly Miscellany.pdf/15

15 s, their religion, their Arts and sciences, their size,, &c. &c. &c. By means of such a metal ladder be very convenient for them to ascend, and, to, and from the moon; and an end might  to this controversy by ocular demonstration. we are at a great loss, for a market to dispose of manufactures, at present, we might open up a corondance with the Lunar inhabitants, and get our ds disposed of to them, and their productions,  be brought down to us. They would add to the luxuries of the tables of our State Paupers.

. You are very satyrical, Millar. However I must, that you have not studied arithmetic in vain. You have ished me with your wonderful calculations. I had no idea that National Debt was such an immense sum, as the solution of questions shew it to be. But I am firmly of opinion, that as Nation has jogged on with this burden of national debt, upon, for these hundred and twenty years past: So it may move on for ever without stopping for a single moment.

. Your sophism, Mr. Block, will not go down with It brings to my mind a passage of scripture. As, "There come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fa  asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning  Creation": So you think, that because the nation has  on, without stopping, for these hundred and twenty years under the heavy pressure of the National Debt, that the ing load will never be able to break the Nation's back. If so, must be something supernatural about this Debt. There is a  to which the National Debt may arrive at; but t must stop. In order to demonstrate the absurdity of your ing, for my next problem, I shall pitch upon some period, a er of years hence, and allow the National Debt to accumulate, same ratio, till that year, which it has done for these hundred  years past. From the solution, it will appear evident, interest of the National Debt must either be reduced, or  system will explode. In either case, the Fund-Holders losers, for there is no alternative.

1. The present National Debt commenced, and was in 1697 5.000000.

In 1702 £16,394,702

1740 48,32,630

1747 64,593,797

1753 75,077,264

1765 146,982,844

In 1786 £266,725,097

1796 367,308,268

1807 638,451,373

1810 900,000,000

1817 100,000,000